Shooting range and game apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for a shooting game or amusement which can be played indoors on a range and which includes a shooting station and a target-launching station. A number of target launchers are positioned at the launching station, the launchers being operable to launch targets toward the shooting station and the shooter. The target launchers are adapted to launch targets at any of a number of different launch velocities and trajectories.

United States Patent [72] inventor Edward D. Lowry New Haven. Conn. [21] Appl. No. 851,877 [22] Filed Aug. 21.1969 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 73] Assignee Olin Corporation [54] SHOOTING RANGE AND GAME APPARATUS 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 273/101 [51] Int-Cl F4lj 9/18 [50] Field of Search 273/101, 105.6; 124/7. 8, 9, 32, 36,1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,432,446 12/1947 Rutherford 124/8 2,855,916 10/1958 Foster 3,368,541 2/1968 Brink Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Anomeys- Donald R. Motsko, H. Samuel Kieser and William W. Jones PATENTEUJUN29IB7I I 3589,72?

SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG-2 EDWARD 0. LOWRY TTORNEY INVENTOR PATENTEU JUN29 l9?! SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR'. DWARD D. LOWRY BY A) u) 2M ATTORNEY SHOOTING RANGE AND GAME APPARATUS This invention relates to apparatus for assembling a shooting game which can be played indoors within a restricted area and which includes a shooting station where the shooter is positioned, and a launching station from which targets are launched toward the shooter.

In recent times, thepopularity of shooting as a hobby, sport, or form of relaxation has increased. Various games or sports have been devised in the past to interest the public further in shooting, and to provide facilities where experienced shooters may practice their skills and engage in competition. Examples of such shooting games or facilities include trap shooting, skeet shooting, target ranges where stationary targets are used, and shooting galleries where targets which move laterally of the shooter are featured, to name a few. Skeet and trap shooting are very popular with skilled shooters and require a fairly substantial degree of skill to be enjoyed, since the targets fired on are in free flight in the air and are launched away from the shooter. Target ranges utilizing stationary or laterally moving targets are more popular with the occasional shooter since the targets are easier to hit, but provide less excitement and satisfaction than trap or skeet because the targets are not launched into the air before being fired on.

While skeet and trap shooting are more exciting and satisfying to engage in, both forms of shooting are exclusively practiced at outdoor ranges because the targets are launched away from the shooter and travel a considerable distance if they are not hit. These shooting games are usually restricted away from heavily populated areas because of safety considerations and noise, which cannot be contained because of the outdoor environment of the game, and because the distance between the shooter and launched targets necessitates the use of ammunition with a larger charge which is obviously more dangerous and more noisy than common shooting gallery ammunition. Another problem inherent with outdoor trap and skeet ranges relates to nighttime shooting and the attendant expense of lighting the range. Still further, weather greatly affects the operation of a trap or skeet range.

This invention concerns a shooting game which combines the best qualities of both gallery shooting and trap or skeet shooting while at the same time eliminating their difficulties. The game associated with this invention can be played indoors in an area about the size of a pair of bowling lanes, so that a number of ranges can be disposed in a building about the size of a bowling alley. The apparatus for this game includes a shooting station which is positioned at one end of the playing area, and a target station positioned at the other end of the playing area. Target launchers are operable to launch targets into the air toward the shooting station where the shooter is positioned. By launching the targets toward the shooter, the area needed to use the apparatus is considerably reduced, and the targets are somewhat easier to hit because they are moving toward the shooter. To increase the difficulty of the game, several launchers are positioned opposite the shooter in such a way that the shooter will not know where the target is coming from until it is launched. To further vary the degree of skill needed to hit targets, the launchers are adapted so that they can launch targets at a number of different velocities. Thus the targets will take different trajectories depending on launch velocity and launcher positioning. In this way the various parameters determining the flight path of the target will be unknown to the shooter, so that playing the game becomes more difficult than a shooting gallery, and yet easier than trap or skeet. It is anticipated that the game will thus appeal to both the novice and the experienced shooter.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide apparatus for use with a shooting game, which apparatus includes a shooting station, a target station spaced apart therefrom, and target launcher means at the target station operable to launch targets into the air toward the shooting station.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the character described wherein there are a plurality of launchers at the target station and hidden from view so that a shooter does not know from whence the target will be launched.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the character described, wherein each of the target launchers is capable of launching a target at a number of different velocities to vary the target trajectory.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a range utilizing one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention with facilities shown for one shooter;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the rangeof FIG. 1 showing the deployment of launchers and various trajectories which targets could take if launched at difierent velocities;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a target launcher which is used with the apparatus of this invention and which can provide variable target launch velocity; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of the target launcher of FIG. 3 showing added details of the launch velocity-varying apparatus associated with the launcher.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and'2, a range utilizing the apparatus is shown in a facility designed to permit one shooter at a time to tire at launched targets. The range includes a shooting station 2 which may have raised counter 4 on which several firearms can be placed. The counter 4 is also a convenient place to lay ammunition to be used by the shooters. A canopy 6 can be positioned above the shooting station to protect the shooter from targets which may be launchedat high velocity'and not hit by the shooter. It is noted that the counter 4 will serve to protect the shooter from targets which are missed by providing a surface against which the targets will impact. The range also includes a target station indicated generally by the numeral 8. The area between the shooting station 2 and the target station 8 is preferably recessed or sunken as at 10. This provides a pit into which broken targets will fall.

A plurality of target launchers l2 and 14 are positioned in the target area, the launchers l2 and 14 being shown sche' matically in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is noted that the launchers 14 are positioned above the launchers l2, and the launchers are laterally spaced apart from each other so that targets will come from four distinct places, and will take different trajectories merely because of the positioning of the launchers. The trajectory of a target can be varied merely through varying the position of the launcher, and while the launchers 12 and 14 are shown in two tiers, it is understood that they may be positioned in any manner without departing from the spirit of this invention. The launchers l2 and 14 may be hidden from the view of the shooter by fences l6 and 18 respectively so as to further conceal from whence the target will be launched. The launchers l2 and 14 are manually operated, and to protect the operators, canopies 20 are positioned over the operators. While the launchers 12 and 14 are shown as being manually operated, it is understood that they may be automatically operated without departing from the spirit of this invention. As previously noted, the position of the launcher will affect the trajectory of the launched target, and to further vary target trajectory the launchers are adapted to be able to launch targets at any one of a number of velocities. FIG. 2 shows tracings of trajectories which targets could take when launched at different velocities or from different positions. Tracings 22 and 22 show a high-velocity launch trajectory from the upper and lower launchers l4 and 12 respectively. Similarly, tracings 24 and 24', and 26 and 26' show medium and slow trajectories for the upper and lower launchers l4 and 12 respectively. It can be readily seen that the launchers will give a shooter a great variety of target trajectories and velocities so that the difficulty of the shots can be widely varied.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the details of a target launcher which can be used with this invention are shown. The launcher includes a base plate 28 which is bolted to a support 30. A block 32 having an upper inclined surface 34 is secured to the base plate 28, the block 32 having a pin 36 projecting upwardly from the inclined surface 34. An arm 38 is pivotally mounted on the pin 36, one end of the arm 38 having a pocket 40 on which a target 42 is positioned. The other end of the arm 38 is connected to a spring 44 which extends rearwardly therefrom to a nut 46. The arm 38 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in its cocked position wherein the spring 44, by reason of its extended condition, tries to rotate the arm 38 in a counterclockwise direction (as shown in FIG. 3) about the pin 36. A releasable latch 48 is pivotally mounted on a pin 50 extending between a pair of cars 52 depending downwardly from the lower face of the support 30. The latch 48 is generally L- shaped and a slot 54 is cut through the plate 28 and support 30 to allow the latch to be mounted on the pin 50. The latch includes a terminal finger 56 which abuts the arm 38 and prevents the latter from rotating under the influence of the spring 44. A handle 58 is disposed on the other end of the latch 48 so that the latch can be grasped and pivoted in a clockwise direction (with respect to the view shown in H0. 4) to move the finger 56 downwardly out of abutment with the arm 38 so that the spring 44 will be free to pivot the arm 38. When the arm 38 is thus pivoted by the spring 44, the target 42 is launched into the air from the pocket 40.

In order to vary the launch velocity, the energy in the spring is varied in the following manner. An l..-shaped plate 58 is secured to the support 30, the plate 58 being provided with a slot 60. The bolt 46, to which the spring 44 is attached, passes through the slot 60 and is slidably movable therein. A motor M is mounted on the support 30 next to the plate 58, the motor M including a rotating shaft 62 on which is mounted a camming element 64. A cam follower 66 is mounted on the nether side ofthe bolt 46 adjacent to the camming element 64, the cam follower 66 being biased against the cam 64 by the spring 44. As the cam 64 rotates, the cam follower 66 and the bolt 46 are reciprocated through the slot 60 thus constantly increasing and decreasing the degree of extension of the spring 44, and thus in turn constantly increasing and decreasing the energy stored in the spring. It is apparent that the velocity at which the target is launched will therefore depend on the position of the bolt 46 in the slot 60.

While I have illustrated a disc-shaped target in the drawings, other shaped targets such as spherical targets, or the like, may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The targets can be made of clay, glass, ice, or any other frangible material, ice being preferred because of simplified clean up of debris. Furthermore, other types of launchers than that specifically illustrated are contemplated as being within the spirit of the invention.

The game may be played in the following manner. When a shooter has loaded his gun and is ready, he steps to the shooting station and indicates that he is ready to have a target launched. A predetermined launch sequence can be used, of which the shooter may or may not be aware, or a random sequence of target launching can be used. When the shooter has indicated his readiness, a launcher is actuated and a target is thrown through the air toward the shooter. If the shooter hits the target he may be awarded a point score. Each shooter will have a predetermined number of shots, with the highest score being declared the winner. The launchers can be manually loaded and cocked after each shot, or automatic loading and cocking could be provided. A shooter could request a certain launcher and velocity if so desired. Of course, the shooting can be done without any scoring if desired.

It is readily apparent that this invention provides for a shooting game with a broad range of variables influencing the skill needed to hit a target, thusattracting both skilled and unskilled shooters. Additionally, great excitement is generated by providing flying targets which must be knocked out of the air. The arrangement is such that the apparatus can be installed indoors since the targets are launched toward the shooters, thus increasing versatility and appeal of the game.

What I claim is:

1. In an indoor shooting range, apparatus comprising:

a. a shooting station;

b. a target station spaced apart a predetermined distance from said shooting station;

c. a plurality of separate target-launching positions at said target station, said target-launching positions being up posite said shooting station in a common direction, ones of said target-launching positions being spaced apart from others of said target-launching positions to provide a number of distinct locations from which targets can be launched in a common direction toward said shooting station. and target launcher means positioned at said target station and operable to launch targets from each of said target-launching positions toward said shooting station;

d. means interposed between said shooting station and said target launcher means to conceal operation of said target launcher means from said shooting station; and

e. means connected to said target launcher means to actuate one of said target launcher means to launch a target toward said shooting station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means connected to each of said target-launching means and operable to vary velocities at which targets are launched toward said shooting station.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein certain ones of said target-launching positions are vertically and laterally offset from different ones of said target launching positions to present a variety of possible trajectories along which target may be launched toward said shooting station.

4. The shooting range of claim 1, further comprising a sunken area between said shooting station and said target station operative to accumulate broken target fragments. 

1. In an indoor shooting range, apparatus comprising: a. a shooting station; b. a target station spaced apart a predetermined distance from said shooting station; c. a plurality of separate target-launching positions at said target station, said target-launching positions being opposite said shooting station in a common direction, ones of said target-launching positions being spaced apart from others of said target-launching positions to provide a number of distinct locations from which targets can be launched in a common direction toward said shooting station, and target launcher means positioned at said target station and operable to launch targets from each of said target-launching positions toward said shooting station; d. means interposed between said shooting station and said target launcher means to conceal operation of said target launcher means from said shooting station; and e. means connected to said target launcher means to actuate one of said target launcher means to launch a target toward said shooting station.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means connected to each of said target-launching means and operable to vary velocities at which targets are launched toward said shooting station.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein certain ones of said target-launching positions are vertically and laterally offset from different ones of said target launching positions to present a variety of possible trajectories along which target may be launched toward said shooting station.
 4. The shooting range of claim 1, further comprising a sunken area between said shooting station and said target station operative to accumulate broken target fragments. 